Lubricator



C. F. HOOFER July 24, 1934.

LUBRI CATOR Filed June 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l [A/ vE/Y r022 CHARL 55 F 170 OFER A rramvzr;

July

24, 1934. c F, HOOFER 1,967,474-

LUBRIGATOR Filed June 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fJS/VENTOR CHARLES F 17001 51? ATTORNEYS "25 tie 12 by means of wood screws 16.

50 illustrated Patented July 24, 1934 LUBRIoAToR Charles F. Boofer, Chicago, Ill. Applica ion June 2.5, 1932, Serial o. 19,179

' 14 Claims. (01. 1s 3 My invention relates to lubrication and includes among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved lubricator.

In'tne accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention illustrating its application to a rail;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan View taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a por- '10 tion of my device;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional sembly;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

-Figure '7 is a sectional detail of the nozzle end of the actuating arm; and

Figure 8 illustrates a different nozzle construcview of the screen as- 20 tion.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a rail 10 mounted upon a tie 12 in accordance with the usual practice, In Figures 1 and 2, astand 14 is mounted upon the This stand supports a pump-cylinder 18 through the medium of a clamp 20 comprising plates 22 held in clamp- ;ing assembly by a bolt 24 (see Figure 6 Each plate is curved at its upper end to conform to the contour of the pump cylinder while its lower end is shaped to be firmly connected with the stand when the bolt 24 is tightened. Thus it willbe seen that the mere tightening of the bolt not only clamps the parts in rigid assembly but also automatically determines the angularity of, the

pump cylinder 18 (see Figure 1).

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the pump cylinder 18 is connected with an oil tank- 26 by a pipe 28 which lies in a plane below the upper surface of the tie 12 and along one side of the latter.

This arrangement is permitted by reasonof the laterally projecting pipe 30 which is of sufiicient length to permit the pipe 30 to be positioned to one side of thetie.

Oil from the tank 26 is conveyed to the pump -cylinder 18 by force of gravity and is discharged therefrom onto the rail '10 through the medium of an actuating arm 32 when the latter moves from the dotted line position to the full line position in Figure 1 after having been depressed by the flange 34 of the car wheel 36. The I oil on the rail effectivelylubricates that portion of the rail having contact with the flange 34. 1 "The pump cylinder 18 is provided withthree axially aligned-bores 38, 40 and 42 of respectively 'sembly 52. This assembly with their free ends bearing a or" a compression spring 68.

from the supply will pass held in its seat by a spring 84. Openings 86 place threaded connection at 94 with a pipe 95 comprisincreasing diameters (see Figure 3). Bore :42 is threaded at 44 for the reception of a threaded plug 46 having an inlet opening 48. This plug is bored out at one end to proyide an abutment 50 pressing against one end of a strainer ascomprises a screen 54 within a metallic guard 56, The latter is stamped from sheet material to provide members '58 merging with a connecting portion 60. This material is bent into cylindrical shape, so that '55 the members 58 fit snugly against the screen 54 gainst the abut.- ment 50 A disc 62 having a flange 64 is placed against the connecting member 60 and is pro- K 7 vided with a depression 66 for receiving one end 70 Flange 64 prevents lateral shifting of the disc 62 relatively to the screen assembly. Thus it will be seen that oil through the opening 54, and into the 48 in the plug 46, the screen bore 42.

The opposite end of the spring 68 bears against a piston '70 slidably disposed within the bore 40 and havinga stem '72 projecting through the bore 38, This stem is provided with an opening '74 '80 communicating with a bore '76 threaded to receive a plug'78 having an opening arranged to be closed by a ball check 82. This ball is normally the bore 76' in communication with that portion of the bore 40 upon the stem 'side of the piston 70. Means for reciprocating the piston '70 comprises a head 88 in connection with a fulcrumwasher 90 threaded upon a hollow shank 92 having ing a part of the actuating arm 32. I have provided a box 96 having a threaded connection'at98 with the pump'cylinder 18 and provided with a flange 100 which functions as an abutment for the f washer 90. This flange terminates in'a relatively 95 large opening 102 to permit movement of the shank 92 relatively to the box. It will be noted that the curvature of the head 88 conforms to the concave bearing surface 104 defining the end of I the stem '72 and that the head is provided with an 1 0 opening 106 placing the actuating arm 32 in communication with the stem -72. The curvature of the surfaces is designedto permituniversal movement of the actuating arm 32. I have shown the normal position of the actuating arm in Figures 1 and 3. The arm automatically assumes this position whenever released by'reason of a spring 108 the convex surface 116 of the box 96. The dust 110 .suring proper contact surface 104.

shifts the head 88 relatively to the wardly by reason of nozzle in which cator.

that particular type of respect to the box 96 in the same way as the actuating arm and prevents dirt from passing into the interior of the box.

In operation, the actuating arm 32 in being shifted to the dotted line position, as when depressed by the flange 34, will cause the washer 90 to pivot against the abutment 100, thereby moving the piston 70 to the left when viewing Figure 3. Such movement of the piston will cause the lubricant in the chamber to lift the ball 82. Thus oil will flow around the ball and into the bore 76 and the bore 40 through the openings 86. It will be apparent that the amount of piston mdvement will be determined by the distance theactuating arm 32 is termine the quantity of oil passing the ball 82. The piston is operated against the tension of the spring 68, so that the piston will always tend to move in the direction of the head 88 thereby inbetween-the head and the The combined tension of the springs 68 and 10,8 moves the actuating arm 32 into axial alignment with the piston cylinder 18 as soon as the arm has been released, thus permitting the piston o return to its original position. Such movement of the piston will force much of the oil in the chamber 40 and the'bore 76 to pass into the actu- 'ating arm'32 through the aligned openings 74 and 106. A slight movement of the actuating arm stem '72 to the extentthat the opening-106 is moved out of communication with the opening '74. Thus the oil in theactuating arm is prevented from flowing rearany suction created by the moved against the tension of the spring 68. The fulcrum washer 90 may shift relatively to the abutment 100 during actuation of the arm 32 so that the head 88 will always be properly seated in the concave end of the stem 72.

The opening 118 in the nozzle 120 (see Figure 7) is smaller than the opening in the pipe 95. The smaller opening in the nozzle causes a slight resistance'to the passage of oil therethrough so that a desirable pressure is built up which causes piston 70 when it is the oil to be discharged from the actuating arm with 'suflicient force to become effectively applied to the rail. In Figure 8, I have shown a modified I employ a ball check 122 ar-- ranged to permit the flow of oil around the valve for discharge purposes, but which is arranged to immediately seat upon diminishing pressure of the oil to prevent any rearward movement of the oil in the actuating arm. This nozzle is employed in cases where the openings 74 and 106 are of 's'uch'large diameters that they are in communication in all positions of the arm. The nozzles are case hardened to resist wear.

I have provided a lubricator which is actuated by movementin either direction of a vehicle over that portion of the rail associated with the lubri- Thus it will be seen that a single lubricator is sufficient to efiectively lubricate a rail regardless of the length of the train. Furthermore, the

oil isapplied to the rail only-when it is needed,

and only in such quantities as are necessary to effectively lubricate the contacting parts. The actuating arm is designed to permit train operated snow plows to pass thereover with no damage to. the lubricator. My lubricator is easily associated with rails of various dimensions by simply mounting-it upon rail. 1116 oil reservoir depressed, which in turn will.de-

a stand 14 designed for 1,967,474 cap 114 is arranged for universal movement with may be located in any desired place where it offers the least interference with track maintenance or the movement of trains.

Precise adjustments of the discharge end of the nozzle with the rail is easily attained at the time of installation, or at any time thereafter, by reathe fact that the clamp 20 is shiftable relatively to the stand 14. Thus the lubricator may be fastened to the stand at the proper distance from the rail. And precise adjustmentfo-r the correct height of the discharge end is easily made by shifting the clamp longitudinaly of the pump cylinder 18. This adjustment is of particular advantage in cases where plates are inserted between the rail and the tie subsequent to the installation .of the lubricator.

It will be apparent that the lubricator may-be employed in connection with many types of machinery and actuated by contact with machine parts'other than flanged wheels, as illustrated.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various-conditions of service.

I claim: 1

1. The combination of a rail, a pump mechanism, a handle for operating said pump and having an oil conduit communicating with the pump, said handle having its discharge end-terminating in close proximity with said rail and arranged to be operated by a swinging action by engagement with a wheel passing along the rail, so that oil will be discharged onto the rail. 1

2. The combination of a rail, a pumpmechanism, a handle for operating said pump and having an oil conduit communicating with the pump, said handle having its'discharge end terminating in close proximity with said rail, to be operated by a swinging action by engagement with vehicles passing along the rail, so that oil will be dis charged onto the rail.

'3. A lubricator comprising, a pump mechanism arranged for connection with a source of lubricant, and an oil discharge nozzle communicating with said Dump mechanism andarranged to operate the pump mechanism by a swinging action, to force oil through the discharge nozzle.

4. A lubricator mechanism mounted thereon and arranged for connection with a discharge nozzle communicating with said pump mechanism and arranged to operate the pump mechanism. by a swinging action, to force, oil through saiddischarge nozzle.

5. A lubricator comprising a pump mechanism arranged for connection with a source of lubricant, and pump actuating means having anoil discharge conduit communicating withsaid pump mechanism, said actuating means being arranged to operate the pumpmechanism by aswin'ging action, to force oil through said discharge conduit.

6. The combination with a rail, of 'a,.pump mechanism, means connecting said pump mechanism with a source of lubricant, a pump actuating member provided with an oil; conduitcommunicating with said pump mechanism and: having one end arranged in close proximity to the rail, to be operated by a swinging action by contact with a vehicle passingzover the rail, such movement of pump mechanism to be operated for forcing'oil through, the actuating member and discharged onto the-rail.

7'. The combination With/a5 rail-supported upon atie... of a, pump mechanism mountedthereon, and 5 a source of lubricant, and an oilthe actuating member causing the comprising a mounting, a pump arranged for connection with a source of lubricant, a pump actuating member provided with an oil conduit communicating with said pump mechanism and having one end arranged in close proximity to the rail, to be operated by a swinging action by contact with a wheel of a vehicle passing over the rail, such movement of the actuating member causing the pump mechanism to be operated for discharging onto the rail.

8. The combination with a rail, a pump mechanism arranged for connection with a source of lubricant, a pump actuating member provided with an oil conduit communicating with said pump mechanism and having one end arranged in close proximity to the rail, to be operated by a swinging action by contact with a wheel of a vehicle passing over the rail in either direction, such movement of the actuating member causing the pump mechanism to be operated for discharging oil onto the rail.

9. The combination with a rail supported upon a tie, of a mounting secured to said tie, a pump mechanism supported upon said mounting, means connecting said pump mechanism with a source of lubricant, a pump actuating member arranged for universal movement and provided with an oil conduit communicating with said pump mechanism, said arm having one end arranged in close proximity to the rail, to be operated by contact with a wheel of a vehicle passing over the rail, such movement of the actuating member causing the pump mechanism to be operated for discharging oil onto the rail.

10. A lubricator comprising a cylinder, a piston disposed Within said cylinder and arranged for axial movement therein to move fluid through the cylinder, said piston having a stem provided with a curved surface upon its end, an abutment connected with said cylinder, a piston operating member having an oil discharge conduit and a head provided with a surface conforming to the contour of the curved surface on the end of said stem and in contact therewith, and a companion abutment carried by said piston operating member providing a pivot member oscillatory movement of said member causing axial movement of the piston.

11. A lubricator comprising a cylinder, a piston disposed within said cylinder and arranged for axial movement therein to move fluid through the cylinder, said piston having a stem provided with a curved surface upon its end, an abutment connected with said cylinder, a piston operating member having an oil discharge conduit and a head provided with a surface conforming to the contour of the curved surface on the end of said stem and in contact therewith, and a companion abutment carried by said piston operating member providing a pivot member oscillatory movement of said member causing axial movement of the piston, said member being normally positioned in axial alignment with said cylinder, and spring means for returning the member and said piston to their normal positions when said member is released.

12. The combination with a rail and a tie for supporting the same, of a bracket having a supporting reach arranged in parallelism with said tie, a lubricator having an operating arm provided with a discharge port arranged in operative relation with said rail, and a clamp for mounting said lubricator upon the reach of said bracket, said clamp being constructed and arranged to support the lubricator at an angle with respect to said reach, said clamp being adjustable along said reach to vary the distance between the operating arm and said rail, and said clamp being adjustable with respect to the lubricator to permit adjustment of the latter with respect to the clamp, to vary the elevation of the operating arm with respect to the rail.

13. The combination with a lubricator comprising a cylinder and an operating arm normally positioned in axial alignment with said cylinder of a bracket having a reach arranged toextendinparallelism with a supporting surface for the bracket, and a clamp adjustable along said reach and arranged for adjustably supporting the lubricator at an angle with respect to said reach.

14. A device of the type described comprising a bracket having a reach arranged to extend in parallelism with a supporting surface, a lubricator comprising a body portion and an operating arm normally positioned in axial alignment therewith, a clamp comprising two parts arranged in clamping relation with said reach and said body portion, said clamp being shaped to support the body portion at an angle with respect to said reach, and a bolt associated with said parts and arranged for drawing the two together into clamping relation with said reach and the body portion.

CHARLES F. HOOFER. 

